FASCINATING GAMBIA

Gambia is a very small and narrow West African country bounded by Senegal with a slim Atlantic coastline and has a total number of populations 2,841,803 as of 2024. It is known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas, and rare birds. The capital, Banjul, and nearby Serrekunda offer access to beaches.

The Gambian was at the heart of one of humanity’s darkest chapters—the slave trade. There is a significant historical spot connected to slavery located in Barra—Fort Bullen. It stands as a lasting reminder of the British campaign to eradicate slavery in West Africa built by the British in the early nineteenth century to thwart the effort of some European slave traders. In the early 1970’s, it was declared a National Monument and in 2003, along the Six-Gun Battery in Banjul, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The country is a former British Colony, and the official language is English, which favors numerous visitors. Educated in English, most Gambian people are at least bilingual. Often referred to as the “Smiling Coast of Africa”, Gambians are famed for their hospitality and laid-back lifestyle. They are also highly regarded for its high degree of tolerance and respect for other cultures.

Janjanbureh or Jangjangbureh is the official name of a town founded in 1823, on Janjanbureh Island, also known as McCarthy Island in the Gambia River in eastern Gambia. Until 1995, it was known as Georgetown and was the second largest town in the country. It is now the capital of the Central River Division and is best known as home to Gambia’s main prison.

Originally, merely a sand bank, the island was formed over hundreds of years. Known as Lemain Island, visited by early European and Luso African (mixed African/ Portuguese) traders during the 16th/17th centuries, it provided a crossing place and temporary trading posts for them. Oral tradition states named after two brothers, Janjang and Bureh who farmed and settled here. Other sources state that the first settlement in 1810 was 200 Muslim-Mandingo refugees fleeing persecution on the mainland by the local non-muslim kings, led by Almamy Hamang Touray, thus the first village head. When the British arrived, they confirmed the settlement of Moro Kunda (meaning a holy village). These Muslims defined their origins as Janjang and ‘Borry’ verbs meaning ‘to scatter’ and ‘seek refuge’, in Mandinka.

Serekunda, meaning “the home of the Serre family” is a sprawling urban area in the Gambia, a small West African country bordered by Senegal. It is Gambia’s biggest city, home to the country’s biggest market and has long become the economic hub. In town, the huge Serekunda Market sells local produce and textiles. The nearby Atlantic coast is known for its beaches and resort villages, which run south from Bakau to Kotu and Kololi. It is now the primary transport hub and activity center of The Gambia.

Location: Western Africa

Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W

Coastline: 80 km

Climate: tropical: Hot Rainy Season (June to November); Cooler Dry Season (November to May)

Time Zone: GMT

Resorts & Accommodation

The Gambia has an excellent combination of features, which together provide an excellent setting for a memorable and worthwhile holiday. There are four main resort areas with modern hotels of all classes as well as small but comfortable guesthouses. Outside this area, there are exotic camps mainly situated on the banks of the beautiful River Gambia.

Activities

There is a large variety of activities designed to make your holiday an exciting and relaxing: river cruising, fishing, village tours, bird watching, adventure trips, evening entertainment, trips to the stone circles and round trips to Senegal amongst others.

Nature

The also boasts an astonishing 570 species of exotic birds and its well know as watchers paradise, as well as monkeys, crocodiles, dolphins, hippos mixed with a huge variety of tropical plants.

People & Culture

The Gambia has a population of over 1.8 million people belonging to eight ethnic groups. They live in mixed communities, freely exercising their religious and cultural traditions with a great sense of hospitality.

Cuisine, Crafts & Music

Cuisine – Hotels and restaurants in The Gambia serve various international and African cuisines mainly prepared with rice, millet and maize.

Crafts – There is a large selection of antique masks, carvings, jewellery, leatherworks, and hand woven fabrics to be found all over The Gambia.

In Gambia – like all the African destinations – music is essential for the culture and tradition of its population: they has a variety of traditional musical instruments and the most famous of them is the Kora-a 21 string harp…they will capture you in their special atmoshpere!